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Today’s number: 48 percent

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Illinois

* Tim Landis at the SJ-R…

An annual telecommunications update from the Illinois Commerce Commission this summer found that 48 percent of state households relied on wireless-only service at the end of 2014, continuing a decades-long trend that has continued to accelerate. Landline use dropped nearly 36 percent from 2005 to 2014 to approximately 5 million, even when Internet- and cable-based service was included.

In contrast, the ICC estimates that there are nearly 13 million wireless subscribers in Illinois.

The number of POTS lines — the regulatory acronym for “plain old telephone service” — in AT&T territory is dropping by 1,000 a day, according to company estimates. The state’s other major carrier, Verizon Communications, sold its Illinois landlines in 2010 to Frontier Communications. The Federal Communications Commission in August set consumer notification guidelines for carriers planning to end traditional copper-line service. […]

Illinois’ switching is ahead of the nation, according to the CDC, which reported that 41 percent of households nationwide were wireless-only last year. […]

AT&T estimates that only 18 percent of Illinois customers remain on dial-up lines. The company also is pushing for Illinois to join 17 of 21 states in AT&T territory that have authorized telecommunications companies to phase out the old networks once the FCC sets rules for the process. […]

“Those individuals that have traditional landlines have them for a reason,” said Julie Vahling, associate state director for AARP Illinois. “They may live in an area that has poor cellphone coverage, or they may have a medical condition, and they want that reliability.

Thoughts?

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 10:41 am

Comments

My daughter has seizures, so we keep a land line, cell phones, and a fleet of homing pigeons. Let’s keep things status quo, shall we?

Comment by Dome Gnome Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 10:47 am
Gonna make polling real interesting

Comment by Todd Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 10:51 am
I still have a land line, mostly because I fear change. Also, I hate to miss any robo-calls.

Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 10:53 am
Back in the early 90s, I was involved in the rollout of the old Cellular One wireless service in Chicago metro.

At that time, we were selling the concept of wireless service simply as a convenience when you were away from your land line. But the long-term plan was replacing land lines.

Not anticpated at the time was the IPhone, which is the last nail in the coffin for land lines.

The boys at old Illinois Bell thought it was a gimmick, a fad, and didn’t even try to get in the wireless business.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 10:54 am
There are many reasons to have a land line. For instance, I am currently a wireless-only household, but I am seriously considering getting a landline as my kids get older and are more likely to need to stay home alone. They need to have access to a phone for safety reasons, but getting each one a cell phone is expensive, and frankly, kids can get into a lot more trouble on a cell phone than on a land line. It’s also a lot harder to lose or break a home phone headset.

Comment by Commander Norton Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 10:54 am
The emergency manager in me is very uncomfortable with the idea of wireless only. Nowhere near robust enough in its current configuration.

Comment by Ken_in_Aurora Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 10:56 am
As I have said for a long time. If you are a consumer of, or interested in survey data released publicly that uses phone interviews as the data collection method, which remains the primary data collection technique for most political or public policy polls: one of the first questions to ask is How many / what percentage of the interviews were conducted via cell phone? A poll conducted via phone cannot arbitrarily exclude nearly half of all potential participants by not calling cell phones and expect to be consistently reliable.

This is one of the reasons our firm Fako Research & Strategies) was among the first firms in the country to begin calling cells legally in 2002 and why our firm has been expanding our use of online data collection methods. Its also why polls using IVR methodology (AKA Robo Polls) that cannot legally call cells should be viewed with caution unless they also include a live interviewer / online cell phone supplement of CPO households.

Comment by Dave Fako Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 10:58 am
My mom is in her late 80s and needs a land line for safety. They should be kept for a minimum of another thirty years until the next generation of older people are comfortable with cell phones

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 10:58 am
Problem in the rural areas is the VERY poor condition of many of the land lines. Mice, water, tractors/tillage equipment, cars, mowers, have all taken a toll. Frontier inherited that mess from Verizon in my area, and really didn’t do anything to improve the system, so many in my area dropped them totally and went back to Verizon via wireless. However, a land line is still a necessity for many, especially for emergencies. And, as Vahling said, cellular coverage is still a BIG problem in some areas of the state. Aside from households, how many businesses still rely on land lines for their operations? Maybe they need to chime in too.

Comment by Anon221 Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 10:59 am
This is a big reason why polling has gotten increasingly unreliable with each election.

Comment by ILPundit Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 11:01 am
Gave up my landline more than eight years ago. In that time period, there’s not been one time that I wished I had a landline.

Comment by Downstate Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 11:02 am
Our landline was completely unreliable. When it rained, the entire neighborhood land lines began to buzz. Repeated requests over years didn’t help one bit.

Disconnected land lines back in 2005. When contacting phone company, kept hearing how the land line was needed for emergencies - and I kept telling them that the land line was unreliable for emergencies.

So - while some may believe that cellular is sketchy for rural areas - so were land lines.

Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 11:03 am
Time for Mike Madigan to get a wireless phone? That would make it easier to help run the 5th most populous state in America, or even just the state wide political party he chairs.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 11:03 am
I’ll be honest. I wish I hadn’t gotten rid of my landline. I’ve got two teen girls and there are many times that I wish I could simply confiscate their cell phones and doom them to use the old fashion corded phone in the kitchen. Boomers don’t know how good they had it. But alas, the last time I tried confiscation my youngest had a legitimate issue where she could have gotten into a bad situation if her friend hadn’t been there with her cell phone and she could call me at work. They bring up the “bus” incident every time I threaten the cell. Neutralized. I have found some traction in switching to flip phones. They are good young women though so I really don’t think about it too often.

Comment by Honeybear Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 11:05 am
Dome Gnome - The status quo won’t hold - as maintenance costs on the system are shared with fewer and fewer lines.

Better to mandate decent cell coverage standards in exchange fro dropping the land lines.

Commander Norton, with two young teens, I can recommend prepaid used flip phones. It minimizes expense, they pay the bill out of their allowance. no internet means fewer issues.

Comment by Any Mouse Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 11:05 am
Keep it for 911 only. And so I don’t have to give my cell # on every application I fill out….

Comment by Shemp Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 11:06 am
Gave up the landline, oh, eight or so years ago. Got it back last year. It’s cheaper for us to have the landline with unlimited minutes and have prepaid cell phones. And my wife wanted a land line….

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 11:09 am
Was told that home security systems that are connected to the local police/fire need a landline connection - is that still the case?

Comment by Bogey Golfer Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 11:13 am
= So - while some may believe that cellular is sketchy for rural areas - so were land lines. =

Sketchy is better than non-existent.

= Keep it for 911 only. =

Does that include a home security system? You need a landline.

Comment by Dirty Red Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 11:15 am
I agree with Dome Gnome. Power outages are common enough here and cell service is almost non-existent, so having the ability to call over a powered copper line in an emergency is invaluable.

Comment by Stuff Happens Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 11:17 am
The telecoms can stop supporting land lines (and layoff the related employees - their true goal here) once they:

Return to its original condition and remove all telephone wires to every home and office in the state.

Comment by Mekong Cafe Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 11:23 am
We switched our land line from Verizon to New Wave cable when it first became available. As a part of the package it
Is cheaper than New Frontier now is. We also have two rotary phones still hooked up that work fine in power outages. We’ve had the same number for about 45 years and just don’t want to give it up.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 11:26 am
Still have a landline. The wife has problems hearing on the cell phone and the landline speaker phone is much better than any cell phone we have tried.

Landlines still have their place. In emergency situations actual copper lines almost always works unless you are trying to use a portable / wireless phone. Whereas the cell phone towers can be more easily overloaded and Voice over IP will be out if you don’t have power. Your landline is tied to a specific address and cell phone with GPS will only get you within 50 - 150 feet which might slightly delay response in a densely populated area if you are unable to speak or provide the address.

Plus I use the landline number when I have to provide one and let the answering machine and call blocking deal with the telemarketers and polling companies. Figure the cost of the landline is just insurance.

Comment by RNUG Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 11:33 am
We could give up our landline but haven’t done so yet. Most rural areas in IL have great to sketchy wireless telephone service by now, and the sketchy is going down. The biggest difference in rural vs. urban is the quality of data transmission/internet. If your only viable options are dial-up and satellite internet, woe be upon you.

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 11:34 am
Dave Fako: LOL Already knew you were the best.

Your comment would have been better as generic information, without the embedded tout for your company. (without paying Rich his advertising rate)

Comment by walker Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 11:35 am
Not only do I still have my landline, but one of them in the house is a rotary phone.

Curmudgeonus Rex!

Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 11:36 am
I live at the end of 6 miles of old wire. cell signal is unreliable so I still have the POTS. But even the Frontier wire has frequent problems.

Comment by Tequila Mockingbird Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 11:42 am
I live in the country and get my internet through my Frontier land line. I guess I’m the only one, because I haven’t read any other comments mentioning this important service.

I’ve had very little trouble with the connections. When there were problems the companys (Frontier, Verison, or GTE before them) were prompt in correcting them.

Comment by BeenThereB4 Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 11:45 am
Our land line is included in our bundled cable/internet/telephone services, so we keep it. I’m glad we have it because of tornadoes. We also keep an old fashioned handset that doesn’t require batteries plugged in in the basement just in case.

Comment by Rayne of Terror Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 11:55 am
Like other commenters here, I keep my landline for emergencies where a cell phone or tower may fail. But oh how I would love to tell AT&T to go jump.

Comment by cailleach Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 12:36 pm
We still have a landline and have three of the old (30 to 35 years) Western Electric rotary phone which are almost indestructible. We also have a cordless phone that we end up replacing every few years. I like having a landline number to give out instead of my cell phone. I don’t really want to be called on my cell phone when I am on vacation by the lawn care company soliciting business for the next year.

I was also amused when my daughter was growing up (she’s 27 now) and her friend would come over and look at the rotary phones and not be quite sure how to use them.

Comment by Retired Already Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 12:36 pm
Landlines should be kept up for several more years until all other service companies catch up with the wireless technology.

Over a year ago I had an ICD (Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator) implanted. This ICD has a transmittal unit that needs to be connected to a landline to transmit the data collected from the ICD. If I had a landline, this information would be transmitted weekly. Since I gave up my landline several years ago, my information is transmitted every 3 or 4 months on a predetermined date. I must hunt down someone who is available and has a landline that I’m able to use in order to do a manual transmittal. Not only is this a pain, but if something is wrong, instead of discovering it within a week, I know find out about it several months after the problem has started.

ICD’s today are coming with wireless transmittal units. But they are so slow in development that only newly implanted ICD’s are equipped with the wireless technology. They are not replacing the old, landline dependent units as of yet.

Comment by When is this over? Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 12:46 pm
These numbers are surprising - did not think it was quite that high.

I live in rural southern Illinois, and at home my cellular reception is, at times, unpredictable. Yet, since I got out of the stone age and got a smart phone I can always text ( almost my preferred way of communicating with most friends ). And unfortunately, Frontier is the only option we have for service and I have to have a landline to be able to get the internet so I am paying $110 a month for this plus my ATT cell phone bill. Wish I had a viable alternative, but guess I will have to keep my land line otherwise I would not be able to post on this site.

Comment by illini Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 1:01 pm
I partially agree with Anon 221: Frontier did indeed inherit a mess from Verizon! I contend Verizon deliberately let its POTS/landline service deteriorate. However — at least in my area — Frontier HAS invested in new equipment & lines.

RNUG clearly states almost all the reasons I insist on keeping landline service at home (I carry a prepaid cell strictly for travel).

One further point: Keep in mind that your cellular phone call is only cellular to the nearest cellular tower. After that it runs through the same trunk lines and switches as plain ole’ landline service (with a few possible exceptions).

Comment by Curmudgeon Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 1:13 pm
I keep a landline just to mess with pollsters and telemarketers.

Comment by Michelle Flaherty Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 1:14 pm
Gave up my landline in January. Was tired of paying over $30/month for the 6 calls I made (and the 600 unwanted ones I didn’t make). I have a home alarm and they company installed a wireless connection to the monitoring service for $10/month. Perfectly happy with this setup.

Comment by a drop in Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 1:25 pm
It’ very important to keep access to land lines. Seniors and persons with disabilities often have much more trouble using cells. Cells run out of power quickly, and you can be caught without telephone connections in an urgent situation. For these reasons, I also believe traditional telephone booths should be restored.

Comment by Quiet Sage Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 2:21 pm
==“Those individuals that have traditional landlines have them for a reason,” said Julie Vahling, associate state director for AARP Illinois.” ==
People with serve hearing lost can not hear on a cell phone & need landlines for safety reasons, etc.. Plus one can not text 911 for emergencies.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 2:25 pm
===- Anonymous - Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 2:25 pm:===

Actually, in some places you can. Sprint, Verizon, & AT&T all have an agreement with the FCC to do text to 911 where local operators have the capability.

Comment by Precinct Captain Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 2:29 pm
Landline is a must in our house. However, I don’t know the number & no hardware. My husband has a pacemaker and the data is sent to his Dr. over the analog line. I requested a wireless transmitter and for whatever reason they insisted we stick with the analog transmitter.

Comment by Metro East Transplant Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 2:42 pm
I can’t find a decent landline, or a livery stable, for that matter. What’s the world coming to? Hello, Central? Gladys? Get me the Johnson place out on the high road…

Comment by Whoa Nellie Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 2:50 pm
Since costs are highly regulated by consumer protection laws, these “landlines” are no longer profitable to the telecoms and, as usual, corporate lobbying wins out again! Consumers deserve the choice to keep these services.

Comment by qualified somebody nobody sent Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 2:58 pm
Still have mine. Better sound quality and more reliable, for under $30/month. These lines are still profitable for phone companies, just not profitable “enough” for the telcos.

Comment by Qui Tam Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 4:09 pm